Moving-picture machine.



c. G. GRABE.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE. APPLICATION man MAR. 20.1911.

1,276 054. Patented Aug-,20, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

c. G. GRABE. MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

. Y APPLICATION FILED MAR` 20| I9`I.

Patented Aug. 20, 19B.

vuNrrED" STATES.' PATENT oFEicE.

CLARENCE e. GRABE, or WILKINSBURG BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR ETHREE-NINTHS To LEo A. PARISH, 'oF'.PoE'r ALLEGANY, PENNSYLVANIA, ANDTwo-NiNfrHs To KARL i. FUHEMANN, 0E sA-ULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO', CANADA.

MOVING-PIQTUEE MACHINE. l

- Specification of LettersPateint. Patented Aug, 20, 1918,

Appiipcation 'nied March 20,0191?. serial No. 155,966.

Tall whom t may concern: 'l

` Be it known thatl, CLARENCE G. GRABE, a citizen ofthe United States,and residing in the borough of Wilkinsburg, in thevcounty of Alleghenyand State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new and usefulImprovements in Moving-Picture Machines,

' vof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means employed in winding and unwinding the filmstrips in moving picture machines, and consists in new and improvedmeans for regulatingthe discharge of the film from the feed reel.

The particular application of my invention which I have in view is theprovision of improved and practicatmeans for un,n winding a coil of filmfrom its center toward its periphery, 'whereby said film, after beingcoiled on the receiving reel in a machine, is ready again for use in thepicture machine without the preliminary rewinding now-'cus-l.

tomary.

In the present practice after a film has been passed through a'projectorin exhibiting the picture upon thel screen, and before thefilm can be againexhibited, it must Abe rewound on another reel, sothat-the picin proper progression on the screen; p l

A number of attempts have been made to perfect mechanism for renderingthis 4preliminary unwinding'unnecessary, but noneofthese devices havegone into commercial use, and the practice of preliminaryrewind ingstill prevails. v l My present invention comprises means whereby inrewinding a picture film fromja.

feed reel, the rotation of said reelis controlled bvuthe resistance ofthev film to the pulling action ofthe traction mechanism of the movingpicture machine.

In the accompanying drawings, which are merely intended to illustrate a'practical em,`

bodiment :of 'my invention and not to limit the scope of the same to theconstruction shown, Figure 1 is-a side elevation showingv` my inventionapplied to a conventional mov ing picture projector wherein the film isunwound from' the interior ofthe coil of 1 film; Fig. Q is adiametricsecti'on of the feed reel taken along the vline IIH in Fig. 8;

Fig. 3 is a broken elevation ofltlie feed reel driving pulley and itsassociated parts; Fig. l is a front'elevation of the film guide dis- I iV Fig. 6 isa broken side elevation of the-reel y ywith the film guideremoved; Fig.. 7 is a similar view with theguide in place; Fig. .8

is-a reversedsideelevation ofthe feed reel and its mounting; Fig. 9l isan edge view of the receiving reel lookinpr in thedirection of the arrowin Fig. 1, and 10 isi an enlargedvertical section ofthe' same takenalong the line X-,X -in Fig; 1.` l

.The following is a detailed description of the drawings.

A- represents theframe of a moving picture projector provided with theusualv driving sprockets and rolls which arenot described in detail, asthey vform no part of my presentinvention. Power is applied to themechanism in any usual manner, such Y as by hand crank 1 and drivingshaft 2. B represents the filmstrip. .Theframe is provided at its upperend reel and at .its lower end with a bracket 4 for the receivingreel C.

The' receiving and feed 'reels are counter# parts of each other, andwhen an empty reel has been used to receive a film, it may be mounted'on the other, end of the machine las a feed reel and the lm takentherefrom for a second exposure 'of the pictures or the'lled reel may belaid aside ready for introduc-f one.` end with a radial flange 8 whichis se' cured to the face of disk 5 concentric with theaXiall opening 6.9 is a' cylindrical sleeve slipped over the hub Tand free to rotatethereon.A l0 is a circumferential iiange on saidl sleeve to whichissoldered or otherwise Asecured alpartially cutaway disk 11 which isAmore 'clearly shown in. Figs. l'and 6.

The disk 11 is provided with pins. 12

which 'engage the -inclined slots 13 inthe The heads or outer ends ofthe clips 15 protrude and are hooked, so that whenthe with av supportingbracket 3 for the feed angular feet 1.4 of the metal clips 15 which drum16 is expanded, said feet engage and support a second face disk 17simiiar'to face disk 5 but with a larger axial opening, as shown. l Y

The drum 16 is expanded and contracted by means of a 'toggle levermechanism 18 which has its ends pivotally connected to said drum and thedisk 11, respectively. When said drum is expanded, as shown in Figs. 6and 10, the disk 17 is held in place by the clips 15, but when said drumis contracted, said disk is released from the drum, asshown in Figs. 2and 7.

TheA d isk 11 and with it the disk 17 may be' rotated in relation to thedisk 5-or may be locked thereto to move in unison therewith by means ofa sliding pin 19 which is normally held in engagement with a hole in theflange 3 by means of a helical spring Said pin may be disengaged fromsaid hole by means of a rocking lever 21 oneof whose ends is pivotallyconnected to the outer end of said pin andl whose freeT end is in thepath of the hub of the'fihn guide to be later described. I

lVhen the reel is being used as a receiving reel, the pin 19 seats insaidhole and'the drum 16 is expanded, locking the disk 17 in place. Insuch. case the hub 7 is slipped over the end of a shaft 22 journalcdhorif' zontally in thebracket 4, a key 23 on said shaft seating in a keyseat '24 in the bore of which is adapted to, have yfrictional contactwith -a clutch facejof a lpulley 27 loose on the shaft, but held in.resilient.engagen -ment with said clutch member 26 bymeans of a helicalspring 28 coiled about the shaft between the pulley and a collar 29fixed 'on the end'of the shaft- Ay belt 30 connects said'pulley with thedriving shaft 2 of the projector.

It is thus seen that the film passingv through the projector gateiswound upon the reel C', said reel beingpower rotated,

but in such a manner that sufficient slip is provided to prevent anexcess tension on the film B' and to prevent injury to the film shouldthe projector `sprockets not feed the film fast enough.

VThen the reel, with the film wound thereon. with the lirst part of thefilm in the center of the coil, is to be used as a feed reel it is firstmounted in the following described disk 'holder which locks the facedisks 5 and 17 together;

D is a flat metal annulus of somewhatlarger outer diameter than thatofthe disks 5 and 17` and provided with a plurality of rigidly mountedand equally spaced pins 31,

each provided with a pair of diskgroov-esv The peror seats 32 on theirinner faces. imet-ers ofthe disks 5 and 17 are flattened, as at 33, sothat when the reel is turned-into the proper position, the reel may beinserted between the pins 31 and v thenvfrotated until the true circularedges ofthe said disks engage and are wedged in the seats 32, Thus ythetwo disks are locked to- 7 gether to move in unison...

To hold the, coil of the film, Wound about the ldrum 16, concentric andto prevent sag`A ends ofthe segments are ivotally connected` to theinner ends of lin s 35 whose outer ends are pivotally connectedl to ametal annulus orring 36 which ismounted on edge` in a circumferentialseries of,-grooves -or seats 37m the outer surfaces of the pins'31..

The ring 36 may-be rotated in either'direcf tio'n'.'v Vhen turnedclockwise into` the p os'i tioi'is' shown in Fig. 8,the links 35cont-act with 'the pins 31 and are thrown toward a.' f"

position. radial of the reel, thus contracting"V the band 34,"andconfining and centeringthe., film coil. rhenthe ring36 is rotated in theopposite direction, countercloclm'ise, the pins.. encountered willthrow' said links toward'f -a`tangential` positionvjnhijelation to thereel iet" l and expandsaid band A34 until it seats l in thercessed'central portions of the pins 31, thus providing sufiicientclearance for the insertion pf the reel into the disk holder.

After the reel has beenfinsert-ed into the disk holder, the band 34 iscontracted to center the nlm coils and is locked against accidentalexpansion by means of a pivoted engagingtheteeth 39- on vthe ring 36.

.latch 38 mounted on one of the-pins 31 and"- I will now proceedtodescribe the method of mounting the feed reel in the projector.

The bracket 31s of yoke form provided with bearings 40 and 4l inhorizontal alinement. '42 is a two diameter shaft, whose' large endprotrudes through and is -journaled in -the bearing 40'and whose reducedend protrudes through the bearing 41. 43 is a cylindrical shaft in whichthe reduced diameter of the shaft 42 is journaled, and which itselfextends through and is journaled in the bearing 41. The end of the shaft43 jn'otruding into the yoke of the bracket 3 is provided with a rigidlymounted male clutch member 44 which is adapted tofrictionally engage a female clutch member formed on the adjacent face of a pulley 45 looseupon the shaft 42. Between the pulley 45 and the bearing 40, a collar46. is keyed to slide on the shaft 42, and said collar is provided witha spur 47 which is adapted to seat in a corresponding notch 43 in thebearing 40, but when said shaft is turned in i lay vice engagementbetween the clutch members' and releasing the drive from the film coil,It is evident that-when frictional resistanee in creases between thefilm and the drumv and guide, the film coil is automaticallyspeeded A.up to reduce such resistance, the rotatioir'of the film coil beingcontrolled by the 'resist- "ance between the film and the drum andguide. i l

Thus the film is drawn from the interior of .the film coil with aminimum of resistance or tension, thereby preventing injury t0 the film,as the film coil is automatically rotated at the just proper rate tofeed the film freely through the deliverymechanism. In case the pullexerted by the projector' sprockets upon the filmis interrupted, theclutch mechanism between the pulley and the shaft 43 remains'inoperative and the film coil-remains stationary. p

When the film'is exhausted, the ieel C may be removed from the shaft43,the drum 16 expandedv to engage and hold in place the face disk 17, thedisk holder andthe guide removed, and theieel is ready to be insertedinthe lower' portion of the machine to re'- ceive another film. Ifdesired the reel C may be inserted in a disk holder, the guide put iuplace and the whole mounted on the shaft 43, whereupon the process .justdescribed of runningtlie film through the projector may be repeated. y jIt is evident .from the foregoing that no injury results to the filinfrom my improved mechanism and much time and labor is savedin exhibitingfilms, no rewinding apparatus being required.`

Although. for .the sake of elearness, I have minutely'described theembodiment of4 my invention illustrated in the drawings, I do not wishto limit myself thereby, but claim broadly. j

l. In a. motion picturer film reel, ay film coil carrier, power-means`for rotating said carrier, a film guide mounted axiallyof said carrierand extending beyond the vertical plane of the latter inv the form. of ahelical curve, whereby the film is led out of the interior of the Hlmcoil on said carrier to the tract-ion devices of the machine, and meanswhereby the'pull of' the film on said 4guide operatively connects'saidcarrier and said power-means, for the purpose described.

2. In a motion picture film reel, a. film .coil-i carrier, power-meansfor rotating said earrier, a split drum mounted axially of saidcarrier,a film guide extending out from thel interior of said drum in the formof a helical curve, whereby the film isy led out of the interior of thefilm coil on said carrier to the traction devices of the machine, saidldrum and carrier being capable of` rotation .in unison but`independently of said carrier, and means `whereby' the rotation of said`druin and guide inresponse to the pull of scribed.

the film operatively eonnectsfsaid carrier' and said power-means', forthe purpose de- 3.Iii-a motion picturemachine, "a 'film coil carrier,powersmeans forfrotating lsaid carrier, a film lead-out guide mounted inthe axis of said `carrier and rotatablendependently vof thesame,l andmeans whereby the rotation of said guide in response to the pull of thefilm operatively connects 'said carrier to said power-means, for thepurpose described. A

4. In a motion picture machine, a film coil carrier, power-means forrotating said carrier, a film lead-out guide mounted in the axis of saidcarrier and rotatable independently thereof', means whereby the rota.tion of said guide in response to the pull of the film operativelyconnects said ea'rrier and said power-means, and means for returningsaid guide to itsorigina-l position when said pull is relieved,for thepurpose described.

5. In a motion picture machine, a film coil carrier,`powermeans .forrotating said carrier, a film lead-out'guide'mounted in the axis of'said carrier and rotatable iiidependently thereof, means whereby therotation of said film operatively connects said carrier and saidpower-means, and means whereby the relief of said pull disconnects saidcarrier from said power-means, for the purpose described. 4

A 6.' Inl combination with the. traction devices of a moving picturemachine, -a film coil carrier, a driven element adapted to rotatesaidcarrier, av split drum mounted axially of said .,carriei', a helicalguide adapted to lead .the film from the interior of said drumtosaid'traction devices, said drum and guide rotating independently ofsaid carrier, and means whereby the move- `ment of said drum andguidecontrols the guide in response to the pull of the Y pair of disks, meansfor locking said disks together, an expansible drum located axially ofsaid disks, and means whereby when said drum is expanded it locks saiddisks to gether' but when said drum is contracted saiddrum is free torotate independently of said disks, for the purpose described.

8. In a moving picture film coil carrier, a pair of disks,` meansengaging the peri'pheries of said disks to hold the same together, anexpansiblefsplit drum located axially of said disks, and means wherebywhen said drum is expanded it locks said disks together but when saiddrum is'conti'acted it is free to rotate independently of said disks, for the purpose described.A

9. In a moving picture film coil carrier. a pair of disks, a `drumlocated axially of said disks, and means tor locking said disks lloLerenti rigidly together, said means being provided with seats which areengaged by the perimeters of said disks, scribed.4

10. In a moving picture film coil carrier, a pair of disks havingflattened perimetal portions, locking means adapted to encircle theperimeters of said disks and into which said disks may be inserted whentheir flattened portions register with said means, vand means wlierebifvw-lieii said flattened portions are rotated out of rregistration withsaid locking means said disks are locked into rigid relationship, forthe purpose described.-

11, In a moving picturefilm coil carrier, a pair of disks havingflattened perimetal portions, locking means adapted to encircle theperimeters ot said disks and into which said disks may be inserted whenturnedwith their flattened portions registering with said locking means,said means being provided with locking grooves, and means whereby whensaid flattened portions are rotated out of registration with said meansthe curved periineters of said vdisks are -wedged into engagement withsa'id grooves, for the purpose described.

12. In anioving-picturefilm coil carrier, a pair of disks havingflattened perimetal portions, a support, and a plurality of pins for thepurpose de# extending from said support and adapted to encircle saiddisks, said disks being freely insertible between said pins when saidfiattened portions are turned in registration withsaid pins, and saidpins being provided with grooves which are engaged by the curvedperimetei's of said disks when the latter ai'e partiallyv rotated,whereby said disks may be locked stationary, for the pur- 14. In amoving picture machine, a filml lreel comprising a. pair of face disks,a

holder enfra in@ the erimeters of said disks D u b u u n o to lock theminto rigid relationship, an eX- pansible centeringring surrounding thefilm .coil on said reel `and supported from said holder, andmeans forlocking said ring in its adjusted position,A forthe purpose described. Y

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 17th day of March, 1917. CLARENCE G.GRABE.

